Council votes to keep park employees

Park and Recreation employees rejoiced after the Town Council last week voted to restructure wage classifications which prevented potential layoffs in the department.

Restructuring of the Employee Classification Plan will save the town save $485,756 for the next fiscal year, and will prevent 11 park employees from being released.

In order to trim a $1 million budget deficit in department this year, the council agreed in February to save the town nearly $250,000 by closing Cramer Family Park, establishing participation fees and holding off hiring an event assistant.

They also announced that potential layoffs in the parks department could take place in April, as the town looked to outsource its landscape services.

The council also approved the Community Block Grant Proposal, which will release $87,200 in federal funds to various organizations serving the High Desert.

Linda Triska, executive director of Feed My Sheep Ministries, was one of the many leaders who thanked the council for their unanimous approval of the grant specifically earmarked for public service projects.

Triska’s ministry, which feeds 800 High Desert households a month, will receive $8,000 service project toward her organization.

High Desert Homeless Services and the Assistance League of the Victor Valley were the largest benefactors, with $14,417 going to each organization.

Of the 15 qualified groups that had requested funds totaling $219,041, seven groups were denied, including Moses House Ministries and High Desert Community Food Bank, according to a staff report.

The town will receive $494,134 for administered projects, which includes $139,520 for Village District street improvements, $100,000 for the town’s Rehabilitation Loan Program, $84,348 for Rehabilitation Administration and $54,000 for improvements to Thunderbird Park.

The $116,266 figure for administration costs raised a few eyebrows in the audience, but Emily Wong, the town’s assistant director of economic development, said the town’s legal reporting requirement by HUD was the reason for the figure.

The council has canceled their May 22 meeting.

The next Town Council Meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 6:30 p.m. The full agenda and meeting can be viewed online at www.AppleValley.org.

Rene De La Cruz may be reached at MrReneDeLaCruz@gmail.com

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